Recent developments suggest Akio Iyoku, longtime Dragon Ball executive producer and Toriyama’s trusted partner, has secured rights from publishing company Shueisha to produce future Dragon Ball anime, games, and films.
In August 2022, Iyoku resigned as head of Shueisha’s Dragon Ball division to start his own company, Capsule Corporation Tokyo. At the time, Shueisha was apparently reluctant to grant licensing rights.
However, Iyoku’s presence at New York Comic Con to unveil the new Dragon Ball Daima project, plus his official description as executive producer aiming to develop new Dragon Ball series, movies, and games over the next decade, indicate he and his studio have likely finalized an expansive content deal with Shueisha.
Though details remain undisclosed, Iyoku’s transition out of Shueisha, alongside bold claims to steer Dragon Ball’s future, suggests Capsule Corporation Tokyo has secured long-term rights.
With Toriyama’s blessing and Iyoku’s vision, upcoming Dragon Ball stories and experiences seem destined to come from this new yet trusted source.
Capsule Corporation Tokyo Secures Rights for Original Anime Projects
While full details of the agreement remain undisclosed, Iyoku’s actions indicate he has succeeded in formally licensing Dragon Ball rights from publishing company Shueisha for his new venture, Capsule Corporation Tokyo.
Iyoku has stated Capsule Corporation Tokyo aims to expand Toriyama-approved Dragon Ball content to global audiences by producing more of it across mediums.
Many fans believe Shueisha previously delayed new Dragon Ball Super seasons because they felt there was insufficient manga content to adapt at the time.
However, Iyoku seemingly disagrees with this approach.
Rather than have animated projects rely solely on the manga timeline, he intends to have Toriyama write original scripts specifically for new anime series, movies, and other media.
By bypassing limitations around adapting from the manga, Iyoku and Capsule Corporation Tokyo can forge their own path in Dragon Ball’s future.
With Toriyama’s direct involvement and guidance, this venture aims to accelerate the production of exciting new Dragon Ball stories and experiences for fans worldwide.
Capsule Corporation Tokyo Aims for Sustainable Dragon Ball Content
In a recent interview, Iyoku directly stated that the typical boom and bust cycle seen in some franchises is not ideal for creating lasting content. He appears to be referring to the Dragon Ball Super anime, which rapidly peaked in popularity in 2018 before fading.
With the Dragon Ball Super manga retelling the recent Super Hero movie’s story for over a year now, fans are clearly craving new Dragon Ball content.
Iyoku aims to fill this gap through Capsule Corporation Tokyo and prevent further long-content droughts.
By securing long-term rights from Shueisha, Iyoku now has the capability to produce a steady stream of new Dragon Ball series, movies, games, and more to engage fans year-round.
Rather than rely solely on new manga chapters or scrambling adaptations, Akira Toriyama can write original stories explicitly for animation or games moving forward.
With fan demand higher than ever and the freedom to forge their own path, Iyoku seems poised to use Capsule Corporation Tokyo to usher in a new era of Dragon Ball worldbuilding and lore for years to come.
His statements suggest he understands riding temporary hype cycles is unsustainable – to keep fans invested, the franchise needs consistent, substantial content to expand its creative boundaries.
Capsule Corporation Tokyo and the Vision for Sustained Creative Expansion
To execute his vision and keep fans engaged with frequent content, Iyoku plans to hire talent exclusively under Capsule Corporation Tokyo to work on new Dragon Ball projects over the next decade.
The creation of an entire company dedicated solely to Dragon Ball suggests substantial new content could be produced at a cadence approaching franchises like Pokémon.
So this moves beyond marketing hype – Iyoku is stepping up to spearhead Dragon Ball’s future creatively.
With secured rights, hiring in-house talent, and Toriyama’s direct involvement, Capsule Corporation Tokyo seems poised to take the franchise in fresh directions beyond what we’ve seen before.
For many passionate fans, Dragon Ball transcends a typical property. And while the anime’s 2018 hype climax may have passed, Iyoku aims to keep the story universe thriving for years to come.
The upcoming Dragon Ball Daima project and future series in the works represent a new chapter, further building out the lore.
In summary, with his industry expertise, expansionist ambitions, and, most importantly, relationship with Toriyama – Iyoku has charted an exciting course for Dragon Ball’s future.
The creation of Capsule Corporation Tokyo marks a major turning point, with more content and worldbuilding likely on the horizon than ever before. For longtime fans, it’s a reassurance the adventure won’t end anytime soon!
